November 2011

maggi dawn shares a quote from Frances Young, always a worthwhile exercise. Here’s a fragment:
…most of us do not have our eyes open to see the miracles of grace. They are to be found in such ordinary, unremarkable, simple things that we do not even notice. We think our worship is dull, and miss the [...]

Allan Bevere reports a survey of Protestant pastors in the USA. Apparently, 91% are intending to hold a service on Christmas Day, which falls on a Sunday this year of course. He asks, “Is it acceptable for churches to cancel worship on Christmas Day? If so, why? If not, why not?”
Frankly, I’m staggered (but [...]

As the United Nations Climate Change Conference meets in Durban, the World Meteorological Organization says that 2011 has been the tenth warmest year on record
The global combined sea surface and land surface air temperature for 2011 (January–October) is currently estimated at 0.41°C ± 0.111°C (0.74°F ± 0.20°F) above the 1961–1990 annual average of 14.00°C/57.2°F. At [...]

The Parish :: Thoughts on Christian (non-) Activism
Being a person of faith at least requires a commitment to economic justice. That’s not the easiest term to parse, but a bare effort would be appreciated. Surely you didn’t miss every verse in the Tanakh about oppressing the poor and favoring the rich. Surely you’ve read James. [...]

Here, then, is the desire, still wandering and uncertain of its object and still largely unable to see that object in the direction where it really lies. Our sacred books give us some account of the object. It is, of course, a symbolic account. Heaven is, by definition, outside our experience, but [...]

Reverend Tafue Lusama explains the effects that climate change is having on the islands of Tuvalu
Our main protein supply is fish. Our sea has always been our refrigerator. We would go out to take whatever is necessary for the day.
Our shores used to be filled with colourful corals and an abundance of all kinds of [...]

He will come like last leaf’s fall.
One night when the November wind
has flayed the trees to the bone, and earth
wakes choking on the mould,
the soft shroud’s folding.
He will come like frost.
One morning when the shrinking earth
opens to mist, to find itself
arrested in the net
of alien, sword-set beauty.
He will come like dark.
One evening when the bursting [...]

A change from Wesley today…
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
O come, thou Rod [...]

Stephan Lewandowsky nails it
In Canada, the real media climategate involves the ongoing list of defamatory articles by the “National Post.” The tabloid is finally being sued by Professor Andrew Weaver of the University of Victoria.
In Australia, the real media climategate involves the national daily newspaper, whose misrepresentations of science are legendary and, sadly ongoing.
Those real [...]

One Day is there of the Series
Termed Thanksgiving Day.
Celebrated part at Table
Part in Memory.
Neither Patriarch nor Pussy
I dissect the Play
Seems it to my Hooded thinking
Reflex Holiday.
Had there been no sharp Subtraction
From the early Sum —
Not an Acre or a Caption
Where was once a Room —
Not a Mention, whose small Pebble
Wrinkled any Sea,
Unto [...]

Anyone remember Todd Bentley? About 3 years ago he was making a big noise with his ‘revival’ in Florida and was something of a star on GodTV. His ministry was always controversial, what with visitations from angels and his penchant for delivering a healing touch with a kick or a punch, but it went off [...]

Terence Blacker strikes a chord in today’s Independent on the nature of British patriotism.
It is the nature of the new patriotism which is most interesting. Asked what aspect of modern Britain instilled most pride in them, those in the survey voted Shakespeare top, followed by the National Trust and the armed forces. The monarchy limped [...]

From the Methodist Church:
A substantial increase in problem gambling in the last four years is unacceptable and needs urgent action, a group of national churches will tell parliament today.
On Tuesday, 22 November, the Salvation Army, Quaker Action on Alcohol and Drugs, the Methodist Church, the Evangelical Alliance and CARE (Christian Action, Research and Education) will [...]

Disappointing (if unsurprising) news from the BBC
Concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere rose to yet another high in 2010, according to the UN’s weather agency.
Levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) - the major contributor to climate change - rose by 2.3 parts per million between 2009 and 2010.
That exceeds the average for the past decade [...]

I wish i could be excited by the news announced last week that Cumbria has become the first ecumenical county in England
On Sunday 27th November 2011 at 3pm Church leaders from the Methodist, United Reformed and Anglican Churches in Cumbria will sign an historic ecumenical Declaration of Intent.
Supported by the other five main Christian denominations [...]